USMLE Step 2

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) offers the Step 2 examination to gauge a candidate's ability to use the medical knowledge, ability and comprehension of clinical science that is needed to give quality patient care with supervision, with health promotion and disease prevention as two areas that are particularly stressed. The assessment is taken to make sure candidates have enough awareness of the principles of clinical sciences and foundational patient-focused proficiency, which are necessary for practicing medicine in a secure and capable manner.

The Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) assessment is scored either on a two- or three-digit scale. If it is a two-digit scale, the minimum passing score is 75. If it is a three-digit scale, the minimum passing score is 184. The CK test includes multiple-choice questions on the following topics:

General Principles
Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
Neoplasms
Immunologic Disorders
Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
Mental Disorders
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
Cardiovascular Disorders
Diseases of the Respiratory System
Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
Gynecologic Disorders
Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive Systems
Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Congenital Anomalies
Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
Symptoms, Signs, and Ill-defined Conditions
Injury and Poisoning

The Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) assessment includes 12 patient encounters. The assessment lasts eight hours and includes two breaks. Candidates will receive a pass or fail grade, but will not receive a numerical value for the test score.